Matthew Langton's story

Matthew Langton's story

Having recently watched the Sky Sports documentary ‘Chasing the dream’ which was a powerful documentary exploring the problems in English academy / youth football across the country. Episode 3 titled ‘Lost Hopes’ was a truly difficult, but important watch for us which resonated with why we started InScout Network. This episode included the story about young footballer Matthew Langton, who tragically took his own life after release from academy football, and which subsequently led to struggles with his mental health. In this episode Matthew’s mum Maxine Langton appeared alongside her son’s former teammate, and friend Kamen Cashmore. Here they tell the story of Matthew, their time at Mansfield Town, and the harsh reality of academy football rejection.

Following this episode, we reached out to Maxine, who generously gave us her two hours of her time, along with Kamen, where we chatted about Matthew, the academy system, improvements needed, the ruthless processes of rejection, and how we are trying to bridge a gap to support players, families, and those who are facing release and rejection.

Maxine, her family, and friends of Matthew have had to endure a sadness that no one should ever have to experience. She lost her son Matthew to suicide in 2021. He was just 20-years-old.

His family said he had long suffered with his mental health, especially after being released by Mansfield Town, but that he struggled to open up about it. His dream was to become a professional, and he was on his journey to making that possible.

"His identity was a footballer. He had nothing else. The way he processed it was that - if he wasn't good enough for football, he wasn't good enough to be here."

He joined the Derby County FC academy at the age of seven, but at 16, was released. Following that, he joined Mansfield Town FC, but after two years, he was released again in 2019. Matthew eventually went to play at Long Eaton United FC in non-league football, however when lockdown happened less than a year later, he was unable to play for the team he had only recently joined.

Maxine believes there needs to be more support for young players within football clubs, and that youth coaches need to be more honest with players who they think might struggle to make a career in the game.

New statistics produced by Sky Sports News show that 91 per cent of academy footballers in England end up never playing a single game as a professional. 0.06% is the percentage of boys who get the chance to become a professional footballer in England, making it just six in every 10,000 boys who make the grade.

- 1.65 million boys play football in England, with less than 1% of them making it into a club academy system.
- From them just 9% will make a single professional appearance.
- In the topflight, just 1.5% of academy players will make it in the Premier League.

"We were never told the downside of it. Only the upside. No one said ‘look, he's going to be released, just to warn you’. So, between the coach and you, you compare that child. I mean, at 16, at that age, you’re so vulnerable."

"We were trying to steer him towards other careers. We know as parents that it might not happen (him becoming a professional footballer). In a way, you're a bit naive that you're crossing fingers and hope everything works out, because that's what you did as a kid"

"He wouldn't open up. He had every opportunity to open up with us, but I think he felt that much of a failure, of how worthless he was with his identity totally gone. He couldn't live in the world that was left."

Mrs Langton stated: "Matthew realised he was on his own then and struggled more than ever"

"Matthew had felt unable to speak to anyone about it, despite having a loving and supportive family that wanted to help. Matthew, like a lot of young men, didn't want to burden people and worry people - particularly those he was close to and cared for."

Matthew played as a midfielder but could also play at right-back. His team-mates called him “Langy” and, Adam Thorley, the then Derby County FC Youth Development Coach said Matthew “wore his heart on his sleeve” and was “fearless in a tackle”.

“He was a really good player,” said a former teammate Louie Sibley, “He was so talented and very unfortunate not to get a contract here. We stayed away on trips together and I remember a time in Holland when he played so well and scored a couple of goals. He got man of the match too. We all remember Matty from that game.”

Ultimately, though, Derby felt it would be in the teenager’s better interests if he looked for another club.

“It was a tough decision because he had been with us so long,” says then Academy Directory Darren Wassall. “He was part of an age group – Lee Buchanan, Max Bird, Louie Sibley, Jack Stretton and others – that we are still benefiting from now. They were halcyon days for the academy and most of them are playing in the first team now. Matthew was unfortunate that he had those players in his age group.”

“When we were offering scholarships, we were thinking they might block his pathway. We felt from Matthew’s point of view he would be better off going somewhere else, whereas in other years he probably would have got a scholarship with us. He was a victim of circumstance because of the amount of talent we had at the time.”

Such a sad story, and it’s so vital we all know Matthew’s story, and the dangers which can impact these young players lives, and of course their families. Mrs Langton wants Matthew’s story to be told, and for people to understand the concerns, and pressures which arise from the reality of the English academy system. We all know the percentages are low, but it’s what we can do collectively to make a difference. This story is something which resonated with us, and is partly why we set up InScout Network to offer a safety net where needed. We are so extremely proud, and very grateful to speak to Maxine, and Kamen who were so upfront and honest with us. Kamen even kindly offered us some valuable advice, and he is someone who we think is such a talented young man, with great ideas.

His family have since gone on and helped to raise more than £18,000 after their son’s death for mental health charity Young Minds, with his mother and father completing the Robin Hood Half Marathon and via a charity football match which was hosted at Long Eaton Football Club. An amazing achievement from the Langton family.

We honour Matthew’s memory, and we hope from his story that it can help others who are finding it difficult in a high-pressure business from a young age. Matthew was in the 1% of the whole country who make it to an academy which is such a wonderful achievement, and therefore collectively we must aspire to support each other to ensure more is done to improve the release system.

Remembering Matthew.

Our promise

If you, or someone you know is suffering after release or rejection, please contact us here at InScout Network. We are more than happy to talk to you, this isn’t just for released players, it can be for those in the system but who want that advice, and safety net. Not only can we help reintroduce you to football, but we have links to trained professionals who can listen and help in a range of professional services. We do this by giving you a professional football portfolio / profile which details all your achievements and measured data. This is then viewed in searches by FIFA agents, scouts, club officials, independent staff, businesses, and more.

At InScout Network, we are trained football scouting and recruitment professionals, and licensed FIFA football agents, and we are here to offer you FREE advice to players, staff, parents, guardians, families. We have direct connections to 13 key businesses who we are in collaboration with, and who can support in key areas.

While it is always disappointing to suffer setbacks, release, or rejection, it is worth remembering what you have achieved in football given the statistics listed above. You are part of the 1% of boys who have made it into an academy, and for those who didn’t make it, we have good news! Not every player who makes it as a professional goes through an academy. We have a good friend, and current professional who is happy to tell his story of rejection, and who has now played over 450 games and counting in a fantastic pro career. We will help you move forward, with our expert guidance, and your football achievements, we can find you the right people to make a difference.

"It is never the end of the story, just the end of a chapter" this is a phrase we use for anyone, any level, any age. You might not fit into every social group, team, club, school, or space, but there is a space for you. It’s about finding the right fit. This isn’t just in football, this applies to us all.

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